The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-01
THP CONFEDERATE NAVY.
ITS HISTORY FROM ITS ORGAN.
IZATIOd 10 THE
Surrender Of the Last Yessel-A
Record Most Creditable to
Every One Concerned.

COnIeueraJe navy, rum us Odtdul-
zaticn to,the last vessel. It's stupen-
dous struggle with the great navy of
the United States; the engagements
4 ought on the rivers and harbors
OF the South and upon the high seas
blockade running; first use OF iron
clads and torpedos, and privateer
history. BY Thomas j. Scharf, A.
NJ, LID, an officer Of the ,late
Confederate States navy, Profusely
illustrated. New York Rogers 4
Sherwood" Advance sheets.
IL is fortunate that Mr.. Schart has
devoted his undeniable zeal and abil-
. ity for collecting materials existing
in a chaotic and scattered state to
the subject OF the Confederate Navy.
Otherwise its consecutive history
would probably never have been
written. The mass Of disointed
matter he has put together is enor-
nous. 1t is from all parts OF the
South, and often from prominent
officers of the Confederate States
navy now living. Naturally there
may be mistakes but we think, in
looking at these advance sheets, that
Che errors cannot be many or import
aut. Certainly they will not be found
10 be such as will interfere with the
great value OF the work. The hearty
approval of the conception of the
history by Mr.. Jefferson Davis, Gov.
Lee and the commanders OF the
Southern vessels engaged during the
civil war, show the interest taken in
these neglected aud almost lost rec
olds of that gallant little
navy which fought so bravely and
won 80 many henors from the
overwhelming odds opposed to it. In
the pages of this history we see the
whole struggle struggle on the
part of the Confederate naval forces
not less creditable than that of the
armies in the field-having its re-
verses, but often its brilliant victo-
ries, and sometimes defeat like that
OF Semmes off Cherbourg, as honor
able as a triumph; its daring an0 ro-
mantle exploits in capturing vessels
from the Federal side by stratagem
or surprise, like those of Thomas in
the Chesapeake and Wood in North
Carolina its intrepid holding OF
small shore batteries like those at
Sabine Pass or ON the James, and its
fierce encounters OF larger import,
like that between the Merrimac and
the Monitor in Hampton Roads.
The men of the navy never declined
a combat vixen they had any chance
or any reasonable ground to fight
Semmes engaged the kearsarge when
all the principles of prudence were
on the side of a refusal, and the com
mander of the Stonewall waited until
his time and patience were both ex-
hausted for Admiral Craven off the
port of Ferrol. On the coast, from the
capes of Virginia to the Rio Grande,
small as the effect it ultimately had
on the fortunes Of the war, the Con-
federate naval officers did all in their
power with the means at their com
mand 10 destroy and damage the
property aud retard the actions of
the Federal forces on land, river or
ocean. IL is sometimes merely hard
fighting, it is frequently a series OF
striking bu' brief episodes; but,
whatever its character, the deed is
always one OF courage and boldness,
often one Of reckless daring, and
never one that is marked by coward
ice, cruelty or want Of courtesy to
opponents. 1t is well, therefore,
that these things should be told, that
mistakes should be corrected, men S
names INDICATED, the honor OF their
acts not be taken away from them,
aud the almost unsurmountable diff
culties they faced in creating any
navy at all be acknowledged. All the
materials for this were in thousand
different places, aud in the
memory Of hundreds of par
Elephants whose ranks were
daily dwindling. 1t was none
too soon TO collect them. If contro-
vcrsy is provoked in the first aston
ishment that the South should have
a side to present in matters in which
the North has hitherto had its own
way and has written to please itself,
il is to be hoped that at this late
day, nothing but fairness and truth
will come from any conflict OF opin-
ion or OF evidence that may arise.
The book before us covers the
whole field of Confederate naval his
tory from the first seizure of the
navy yard, revenue cutters and stores
in the South to the torpedo service
later; the operations OF the rivers
and coasts, the ports on the Atlantic
and gull, at Nassau and in Europe
the marine corps, the naval school
Canada and the lakes, the cruisers
and privateers, and the secret service
Of Commander Bullock abroad. A
candid spirit Of appreciation Of the
the present navy leads the author
TO give them also their dut
credit. at is no exaggeration,
he says in his preface, 'ot the ser
vices rendered in the late war by
the navy of. the United States to sa,
that without its aid the armies of tn,
Union would not have been success
full A score of times the United
States navy saved the army, and a
others it made it safe for the Ian,
iorces to take or hold possession. |,
this navy were bred Buchanan, Tat
nall, lugraham, Forrest, Semmes
Wood, Maflit, Maury, Hollins, viii
kiuson, Tucker, Davidson, Jones
Regram, Brooke and their associates
Their story tits, of course, the pur
pose of this history to tell, but tn
author disclaims any design to refeC
upon shat navy which at all time
carries iu pride the flag which no
belongs 10 the North and the South
when relating the deeds OF entel
prise aud OF daring, the Instances an
examples where iugeuity, enterpris
aud device arose above the emba
rassment Of restricted aud hmite
resources.
When Mr.. Mallory was appolntC
Secretary Of the Confederate Stat
Navy 1t was with a band of eficie
naval officers, but no men; with ~
navy yards, both useless; no nav
materials GA hand, no iron Tor plain